JD or Marco? Marco or JD?
While much of the speculation about who will land atop the Republican presidential ticket in 2028 – with the biggest buzz naturally being around Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio – another possible contender could be making his move by launching a new national non-profit focused on education policy.
Virginia's former Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, announced Wednesday his new project: Empowering America's Parents. This is, of course, a perfect fit for him, as he captured lightning in a bottle back in 2021 when he listened to the concerns of Virginia parents during the height of COVID and used that zeitgeist to win the gubernatorial race against Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
Because Virginia governors cannot run for two consecutive terms, Youngkin had to bow out earlier this year and make way for Democrat Abigail Spanberger. Some thought he might take a job in the Trump administration, but Youngkin opted instead to go back into the private sector.
And, now, he's dipping his toe back into the world of politics and policy with his new venture.
Empowering America’s Parents is a national policy advocacy organization committed to an educational system that puts parents at the head of the table in their children’s lives.
We’re dedicated to empowering parents through transparency in public education and expanded educational choice for parents and students alike.
The group launched its first ad by focusing on expanding President Trump's Working Families Tax Cut, which the group says "revolutionized parental choice in education through the Education Freedom Tax Credit." Thirty states have already signed on, and Youngkin's group is encouraging the rest to follow suit, saying, "Our kids’ future comes before politics."
Nothing is more important than our kids.
— Youngkin War Room - Empowering America’s Parents (@TeamYoungkin) August 5, 2026
That's why it's inexcusable that far-left governors refuse to opt in to Education Freedom Tax Credits — denying families scholarships for tuition, tutoring, and disability services.
Tell your governor to stand with parents/kids. Opt-in! pic.twitter.com/TslvmkMYEW
Youngkin made the rounds on media Wednesday to promote the organization and push for school choice tax credits.
Proud to launch Empowering America's Parents today to push every state to opt-in to the game-changing Education Freedom Tax Credit.
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) August 5, 2026
These tax credits unlock school choice on a virtually universal basis, let's stand with families, and stand against politics. pic.twitter.com/62ScxZ94Uq
So, all of this begs the question: Is Glenn Youngkin setting the stage for something much bigger?
Back in the summer of 2024, Youngkin was widely rumored to be on President Trump's shortlist of candidates to fill the vice presidential role on the GOP ticket, a role that, of course, eventually went to Vance.
Youngkin left the Governor's Mansion fairly popular with voters – and far more popular than Spanberger has proven to be.
He reappeared on the scene back in the Spring when Virginia Democrats, at the urging of the likes of Hakeem Jeffries, attempted one of the worst political gerrymandering efforts in recent memory, hoping to steal at least four of the five congressional seats currently held by Republicans. Who can forget the infamous lobster map that disenfranchised conservative and rural voters and was designed to put the corruptocrats of Northern Virginia in charge of the entire state?
Many Virginians were happy to see Youngkin back in the mix, particularly after a rather lackluster showing last year by his lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle Sears, when she went head to head with Spanberger.
Youngkin criss-crossed the commonwealth and connected with voters again, just like he had five years earlier, urging them to reject the ridiculous map and, well, Democrat policies altogether.
He's also been making some visits outside of Virginia, including to South Carolina and Iowa.
So, could a guy who's setting up a nationwide network of donors and volunteers – and makes visits to presidential proving grounds – possibly be thinking of bigger things politically?
Youngkin has played nice with Donald Trump over the years, so it's doubtful that he'd do anything to run afoul of MAGA. In fact, his best path would likely be to position himself not as the anti-Trump candidate, but as the guy who can take the movement’s populist message and sell it to suburban parents, independents, and voters who might otherwise tune out the Republicans.
Whether he can do that better than JD or Marco is the big question, but Glenn Youngkin clearly doesn't want voters to forget his name.
